
Rnnk ■ M r M 5" 




fiec'd. nAg'97 



Port Jervis, 
New York. 
1897, 



Addresses ©eDn^ered 
^fflnnd Paipers Mead 

A BEFORE THE A: 

X AT THEIR X 

HmmonaD amd Senmn= 

FEBRUARY 22nd, and JULY 22nd, 1896, 



Gazette Book & Job Print, 

Port Jervis. N. Y. 

1897. 



OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 



ItEV. l»i;. S. W. MIM.S. I'hksidknt. 
LEVI VAN ETTEN, Vick President. 
FRANCIS MARVIN, Vke Pkesident. 
JOHN I. WESTBROOK. Vice President. 
ELTING CrDDEBACK, Vice President. 
DR. W. L. CUDDEBACK. REroRDiNo Secretary. 
, \V. H. NEARPASS. C'orrespondino Secretary. 
('. F. VAN INWEfJEN. Treasurer. 

Executive Committee : 

BEN.I. VAN FLEET. O. P. HOWELL. 

C. E. CUDDEBACK. J. J. MILLS. 

WITH OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 



a: description of a: 

MdDmMimemil amd TateDeHo 

0*C>0<C:yO 

The monument is a solid block of blue stone, with i-ou,iih 
cut edg^es and smooth dressed front, the dimensions beingf 
three feet and seven inches hii^h, sixteen inches in thick- 
ness, and four feet and six inches in width, The tablet, 
which is affixed to the dressed surface of the stone by four 
expansion bolts, is of bronze, three-sixteenths of an inch 
thick, with raised letters and is tliree feet wide and twenty- 
one inches high. The whole monument rests on a stone 
foundation of masonry five feet deep, below the frost line 
The tablet bears the following inscription in raised letters : 

»- . • 

I 

TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF 

BENJAMIN EATON, 

WHO SERVED IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY 

AS A MEMBER OF THE BODY GUARD OF 

GENERAL WASHINGTON. 

1780-1783. 

" CONQUER OR DIE. " 

PLACED HERE BY THE MINISINK VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



Si 



^*^ ADDRESSES ^ 

a; delivered at x 
THE SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING, 



At the eiji'hth sciiii-aiiiiual iiiectin^- of the Minisiuk 
\'alU\v Historical Society JH'hl at (Muldebackville, 
July 22(1, 18'.)(), a tablet erected by the Society to the 
nieinory of Benjaiiiin Eaton, one of Washington's 
Life (tuanl, who had been bnricMl tifty-three years be- 
fore in the cemetery at Ciiddebackville, was unveiled 
with ai>i>r<>])riate exercises. 

After biief intr.xluctory remarks by the President 
of the Soci<^ty, an address connected with the nnveil- 
inji' of the tablet was made by John W. Lyon, Esq., 
of P«,rt Jervis. The Tier. Robert Bruce (^lark, of 
(rdslicn, f()ll(»w<Ml \Aith an address on Liberty and 
rati iotism. These, toiictlier with a sketch of the life 
of I'enjamin Eaton, i)rei)are(l by the Hon, Francis 
Marvin, an<l read at the annual meetinji of the So- 
ciety in l''ebi'uary, ISIXJ, and ]>apers relating to the 
Town of Caudebec in I'^rance and to the daudebec 
family, prepared by Dr. W. L. ('ud<leback and read 
at the July meetini;-, have been defined worthy of 
puhlication and are contained in this ]»ami)lilet, ac- 
com])anied by a cut of the tablet. 

Introductoiy icmaiks in part by the President of 
the Societv: 



After ;illii«lin(; !<► tlu^ ;issi'iiiblin<;- of the Society nt 
the phice of its tirst iiiidsuiniiHM* uieetiiiji" and where 
it met for five STiC(e**siv<^ years, and extending; a cor- 
dial ^reetinj^- to all who were inesent, he stated that 
the object of the Society was patriotic as well as his- 
toric. It is expressly stated in its constitntion that 
one of its objects will be " to enconraoe a patriotic 
sentiment.'' The times fixed for the two stated meet- 
in<»s of the Society are Avell ada])ted to promote this 
cbject. The aiinnal meeting is on the 22d of Febrnar\% 
the birthday of the immortal Washinoton, and can 
never be observed withont bringing before the mind 
of every trne American the name of one who stands 
ont in all history as an example of all that is best 
and noblest in patriotic virtue. 

Our semi-annnal m<^eting on July 22(1 reminds ns 
of the heroic deeds of the ])(M)])le of this valley and of 
the snrroiinding conntry, who on this day, 117 years 
ago, ins])ired by loftiest ])atriotism, r(>se up in defence 
of their homes and liberties, which had been ruthless- 
ly invaded by a savage foe, and sacrificed all tha.t 
was dear to them that themselves, their wives and 
(diildren might dwell in peace and security. In this 
deadly conflict, in which one-half of the patnot band 
fell before a foe far sur])assing them in number, were 
pel-formed deeds of valor and heroism which should 
cause tiieir names to be held in grateful rpmembranee 
by coming ge'nerati<ms. 

Our Society has just rendered a ])atriotic service in 
placing a tablet to mark the resting-])lace of one who 
served well his day and geuiM-ation in the great strug- 
gle for American IndepcMidcuce. 

Of this you will hear uiore fully from one well 
known to most of those ])reseut, born and reared in 



this vjillev, Mud whom I t;ikr j)I<^jisni-<' in now ])i'esent- 
iiiii to you. 

AddivSvS ill pjiit of .]oliii \V. Lyon, 10s(].: 
Tlie veil Avhicli has just hccn I'fMiioved by reverent 
hands disi loses forever to luihlic view a tablet to per- 
petuate a. reeord phiced over the tinal restiiiji-i>lace 
of l^enjainiii Eaton, 'i'lie cereniony which brin<»'s us 
together on this (K-casion is therefore frau«ilit with 
both seiitinieut and r(ner(Miee, It is indeed a or and 
spectacle to witness here the renieiiibrance and jirati- 
tude a])])arent from y(»ur presenct^ Upwards of half 
a century aii(> our j^ood and patriotic ancestors jijatli- 
ered at the bier of one whose life and stmooles for 
the liberty enjoyed by them were terminated by the 
ins<rntable hand, and here ainoni>' these hills and at 
the threshold of the historic valley (►f the Neversink, 
]5ointiniLi- towaids our beautiful villajic of Port Jervis, 
jiood men, ami women too, ])aid tinal tribute to him 
whose life and dee<ls we are to-day reviving with our 
presence and the |)lacin_«» of a record which will de- 
claie to cominji' venerations the ])atriotism, reverence 
and liratitude of the jjeneration immediately sncceed- 
ini: that of the one for whom this appropriate tablet 
is pla( cd. Our < liiidren, nid childreirs children, we 
may safely and naturally assuiiu\ will vie^w with 
pride and recoonize by events similar to this, their 
full appreciation, not only of the snbject of this oatli- 
erinii, but also the motives and sentiments which 
Iiroin]»t<Ml us to meet here this (^-entful 22d day of 
July, 180fi. 

But little can be learned of the ]»lace of birth and 
the direct ancestry of Benjamin Eaton. However, 
from data an<l information at hand, it se(Miis that he 
was boin at Salem, in Massaihusetts. I^rom the best 



records obtainable it ai)peais that he eiilistcMl in the 
Continental army from the State of New Jersey, and 
information from the War Department at Washinj;- 
ton states that he served as a private in the Coni- 
mander-in-Cliief's (riiards, Tontinental troops. His 
naine appears on the rolls from Ai)ril 1st, 1780, to 
A])i'il, 1783. After the war he probably lived near 
Newburo-h nntil old aj^e led him and his wife to make 
their home Avith a son, Benjamin W. Eatim, abont 
midway between Cuddebackville and Otisville, J2,'en- 
erally known as the Dilly place, in a log honse eigh- 
teen or twenty feet sqnare. Here he died Oct. lOth, 
1843, and was buried with military lumors. Hon. 
Lewis (^nddeback, Avhom most of ns remember as a 
hiohly honored and respected citizen of this town and 
afterwards of Goshen, assumed charoe of the funeral 
arranoements. Cai)tain I'eter P. Swartwout had 
command of the ])rocession. Peter L. (Inniaer and 
his brother, Jacob (\ K., were titers on the occasion, 
and Peter states his recollection of the whole affair 
as distinctly as thoujih it occurred hut a short time 
ago — the long, tiresome march and the tunes that 
Avere played. The music was " Hoyne Water," some 
times called the 'M)ead March." J'eter was at the 
time about 17 years of age, and with his brother, en- 
rolled as musicians in the militia. 

Such was the life and sunouudings of the subject 
of this gathering. It is tlu^refore exceedingly appro- 
priate, as well as commendable, that the event of 
1843, when his remains weie placed here, that to-day, 
we, the descendants of that generation, should gather 
under the aus])ices of this occasion an<l unveil and 
give to itostei'ity a fitting r<M-ord of the life of one 
illustrious because of his associjiTious with the great 



men who si i'iii;;Lil<Ml loi* (iiii- indciK'ndcncc. To his 
iiu'iiioi-v and the iiiciiKd'y of" those \\'h(» part i ciliated 
in his burial, as well as in vonr behalf, 1 tender to the 
world and i>ost(M'ity the record of Henjaniiii Eaton as 
inscribed njxin this apjMopriate tablet, and may it be 
preserv(Ml as a tittini; emblem expressinj*- the senti- 
nn'nt and reverence of this "feneration. 

Addri^ss in substance of the Kev. Kobei't Bruce 
Hark: 

The President of your Society o;ave me in his invi- 
tation to address yon at this time my option of a sub- 
ject either hist(H'ic or jiatriotie. As I do not feel 
competent to speak to yon of the " Minisink Rattle '' 
1 have availed myself of this option and will talk to 
you on the subject of " Liberty and Patriotism." 

The air is redolent Avith the memory of thin«>s gone. 
The place is historic. Xo longer does blood flow in 
these valleys. The mountain streams rush on in 
their purity to the sea. We have gathered to-day to 
whet our memories of things past, and to stimulate 
our energies for future action. 1 saw in a cemetery 
in lOdinburgh, Scotland, a great Scotch granite monu- 
m(Mit erected to the memory of those of Scottish birth 
who died in our late civil war. Surmounting the ped- 
estal is a bronze ligure of Abraham Lincoln and at 
I'.is feet the bending ligure of a colored man with out- 
stretched arms and upturned face. At the base are 
the words " Emancipation, education, suffrage," and 
also these ininioi-tal words, " To pi-esei've the j(nv(d of 
liberty in the framework of freedom." To ])reserve 
this jeAvel has been the effort of mankind since the 
world began. It shows plainly in Biblical history. 
AbimehM-h made himself king and debased the liber- 
ty of the jteople. In evei-y gi'eat nation in the 



world's liistory man's hirtliii^ht of lihiM-ty has beeu 
»lel)as<'(l l»_v the scltislmcss of nilcrs and di])loniats. 
Tlit'i'c has been a ^radnal pvolntion in tlie direction 
of lihoi'ty, but the process has been slow and is still 
slow in many countries. The greatest foe to liberty 
in all asies has been dishonest diplonuuy. This na- 
tion was born fi-om a trinity of intltiences that pro- 
dn(<'<l the frnit of individual liberty. We are frinn 
the sh)W, determiiKMl, steady-j^oiuL!,- jtions Ibdlander, 
froii! :bemercnrial and enthusiastic l-^renchman, and 
from the an«»les of England; makinji; a people better 
tlian the Hollander, sti''<m<2,er than the Kriton, and 
nioi-e enthusiastic than the l^^rench. 

I'reedoni is of three kinds. I'irst conies ]»hysical 
liberty, which consists of the riL;ht to the free use of 
our facnlti(^s. Tt took centuries of strn_ii<>ie to estab- 
lish the fact that a man's body is inviolate. Now all 
the resources of s<-itMice ami ait are (Milisted to ])re- 
serve it from diseasi- and accident. Next comes 
libeity of mind, full freethjm of intellect and o])i!iion. 
Only in modern times has such liberty existed. Men 
of science hav<^ heen crucitied for ])roclaimin,i>; the 
truth, but now all the w(udd pays ti-ilnite to the ex- 
]»ressed o])inion of t lie man whose rc^search or wisdom 
i>ives value to that o])inion. In this libeity of mind 
is inclnded reliii,ious freedom. Xow-a-days a man is 
accei)ted for the ])urity of his life J-ather than con- 
formity to a. creed, but it has taken a_iies f(»r the world 
to attain that altitude. Next is civil liberty. It has 
recpiiied centui'it^s of sti-uuiile ro hxatc the sover- 
eignty of the state. Not until 1TS7 did our ancestors 
locate it with the ])eo]de. Eniilaml established her 
soverei<>nty in the House of Commons in the ii'reat 
suffrage reform measures of \S'.V2. 



The \;iTi(iiis Uiiids of liberty .mIxinc iikmiI ioncd iiinkc 
the fullest ;iii(l (oiiiplct est libcriy. We enjoy all llie 
libeity (»f iKHJy, iiiiml, relinioii niid civil coiulitioii, 
jiiul in (Ills res|KMi we are urcatly hlc^ssed, far more 
so t lian an\" ol her nation. 

Tlie speaker then (Mumieraled th" varions canses 
which had hindered t he dev(do])nient of civil libi'iMy. 
The conspiracy of Catalint^ in Konie, the dissininla- 
linn diplomacy of Machiavelli durin**' the middle 
aties, the malijin inlinence of l\obes])ierre and his 
fellow-t(Mrorists of tlie I'^rench Kevohiticm, the rise of 
Xajxdeoii, the cold, calcnlat iiiji;, meicenary and licen- 
tious Talh^vrand. 

lie reviewed the circnmstances preceding, the Rev- 
olntionary \var, showiiiii how loyal the people were 
(lis)K)sed toward the Bi-itish Crown and how their 
loyalty was destroyed by lonii'-contintied exactions 
and tyianny. We did n t rebid against r]n,<iiaiid un- 
til fni'ced bv the bitterest o])])ression and nej^hn't. 
The Lifeat success on tlu^ ]>art of our ancestors was 
dtie to their inteurity and tiieii- tenacity in Inddinij; 
ainainst the dissimnlation of tories and enemies. 
They had a luM-oism fixed in jninciple and snnctitied 
bv faith and a vision of a ^^i-eat futni-e. 

The stiiiin.u, (do(jnence of James Otis and Patrick 
Henry were descriircMl, and that of America's defeii- 
<lers in the Ibitisli Ilonse of ( 'ommons, Chatham and 
I'.nrke. 

lie i)aid a tribute to the constructive^ statesman- 
slii|» ami political wis(b)m exhibited in devisin«i' a 
fraim^work of uovernmcMil so ex(inisit(dy adapti^l to 
the needs of tlie fi'ee ]KM)])le of this contiiuMit. He 
]>raised also the work of reconstruction after oui' civil 
war and «-on( luded with an ebxpient descri])tion of 
the future possibilities of this country umler its free 
institutions. 



THE STORY OF BENJ, EATON. 

HE WAS A SOLDIER OF WASHINGTON'S 
BODY GUARD. 

An Interesting Paper Read Before the Minisink 

Valley Historical Society by Hon, Francis 

Marvin. Memorials of the Old Soldier. 

•^t ^t> ^t 

The followiii£f payor was read by Hon. Francis Marvin before 
the Minisink Valley Historical Society at its meeting on February 
22 last, relative to F.enjamin Eaton. 

At a recent session of the executive committee of the Minisink 
Valley Historical Society the Avish was generally expressed that 
such facts and incidents in the life of Ben.ianuu Eaton, the soldier 
of tiie Revolution wlu.se remains repose in au unmarked grave in a 
nearliy cemetery in this town, so far as possible at this late day. 
miglit lie collected and preserved by the society, and one of the 
umnber be cliarged witli the duty. The result has been disap- 
pointiup-. in so far a^^ the writer by brevity of time for extended 
correspondence, and want of experience, has come far short of 
what was reasonably exjiected. But in the hope that the search 
will be renewed by one better equipped, the few incidents collect- 
ed, trifling in themselves, are recorded. 

Absolutely nolldng of the i>arentage of F.en.ianiiu Eaton has 
been .iis<-()vcn'(1. ncr of Ills iiistory Ix'forc the beginning of army 
life. There is .-m iniin-ession tliat lie tirsi saw the light at Salem, 
Massachusetts. His enlistment is credited among the troops con- 
tributed to the Cf)ntinental army from the state of New Jersey. 
The name of his wife, tlie mother of three or fcmr children, can- 
not be recalled. N(tt unlikely, at the conclusiim of his nnlitary 
life, he took residence at or near Xewburgh. until old age com- 



I'elled tlH" couple to make tlx'ir homo with a son at or noar CuiMo- 
backvillo. bi-forc doiiij: which, liowcvcr. lu> made several visits 
there of h>iii:er or siiorter duration: in such jM-riods he is not 
known to have done any manual labor, lie had two brothers. 
Samuel and Ephraim. and perhaps a third. The closing years of 
the old soldier and liis wife were serenely pas.sed in the home of 
Ben.iannn W.. his son: tlicre was anf)ther son. Samuel, and per- 
haps anotlier still wjiose n.inic is forjrotte'n. and a daughter. 
Abigail, or now conunonly cMlled .\l)l)y. who married a Kelly, and 
is thouirht to liavc lived in Xewl)nrgh. 

Uen.iamin W. came to Cuddcliackville in tlie cnmpany of en- 
gint'ors then engagi'd in the construction of the Delaware & Hud- 
son Canal, upon the completion of which he was given the place 
of locktender at lock .").'{. dwelling in the house close by erected 
for that pun>ose, where he piu-sued his occupation of cordwainer. 
and later on added to his income the profits arising from the sale 
of small stores to boatmen. A few years later the family removed 
to a log house on the road leading from Cuddebackville to Otls- 
ville. nearly midway between these villages, then generally known 
as the Dilly place. The house, a small one. some sixteen or eigh- 
teen by twenty feet stitiare. stood in the field just opposite the 
point made by the intersection of tlie road from Port Orange with 
the old Turnpike, distant .">(• yards, and some 300 yards south of 
the toll gate. It lias l)cen siiid. but erroneously. ■ that the old 
soldier was gatekeeper. Oidy the slightest indications of the site 
of this, one the last log lioiises of the region, remain. 

The wife of the aged soldier died here some years Ivefore his 
deeense. and a few still live who remember the hou.sehold and the 
incident of the funer;il. and the fact that it was accompanied by 
military Inniors. 

He posses.sed the form and features calculated to arrest atten- 
tion, of medium height, strongly built, and though somewhat 
stooping from age and assisted bv his staff, was still hah' ami 
hearty: his eye was clear and bright, and he was an intelligiMit 
and fluent talker. The father was usually alluded to or addressed 
as "Mister." and the smi .-is "lien" Katon. The late (Jeorge 
Eaton. wh<) will be recalled by many of us. is said by a grand- 
daughter to have had a suii>rising resemblance to the scddier. lH)th 
in form and feature: she is also impres!<ed with the belief that he 
was in the enjoynuMit of a pension, having a small income which 
ctmld have l>een possibly derived from no other source. On one 
occasion he brought home a cow. i)urchased with iH'usion money, 
and i)resented her soniew li;it ceremoniously to his wife. It is not 



known that he \v;is ;i n'li.cions in.-m, Init iinidni;- liis cffofTs was a 
copy of the b(M)k of Conunon Pra.viM-. whicli Ikhh' cviiltMice of lon,^- 
and constant ns«". 

Till' incidents of his (h'.itli and funeral have usually been placed 
at a date earliei* than is true. In the family record of Benjamin 
W.. now in possesi^ion of Mrs. Oliver Stidd. a coi-y of whicli she 
lias kindly permitted to appear herein, will I»e oT)scrv('il the record 
of his decease, October Ifi. 1843. 

FAMILY RECOKD OF BENJAMIN W. EATON. 
Ben.iamin Eaton, fatlicr. died Oct. IC. 1.S4:'.. 

Benjamin W. Eaton, son. boi-n l>ec. '!(». ITtll; married Marijaret 
Dnvall; died Jan. 13. Isr.T. 

Margaret Duvall. v.\U\ born Antr. S. 17;»r>. dieil Aiiril 4. ISTd. 
C'lIILDUEN. 

Elizabeth C. born Jan. 13. lSir>. married Emery Thompkins. 
died Dec. 20, ISlft. 

?^Iary Jane, born Feb. ."i. 1S17. died :Marcli 10. ISIJ). 

Sanmel. )>oni Marcli 23. 1S19. dieil April 4. ISIJ). 

SauJiicl. Ixirn .Vn-..;. 20. ISi'U. died Sept. 4. 1S2(). 

Sarah K(inyi. Iiorn Nov. Ki. 1S21. UKin'icd Caton Stiild. died 
Sept. 2<;. l.S(n. 

William S.. born .Marcli 24. 1S24. married Evans. 

Uachael Ann. lioin 0<-t. l."i. 182(i, died Oct. :Ul. 1S2(;. 

Mara-aret born Feb. 14. 182S, died Mar<-h 12. 183.". 

Henry ('.. born Ma.A '.», 1831, married Kebecca Booth. 

Harmaniis 0(uddel>acki. born ^Mav 3. 1834. married ('atlierine 
Miracle. 

Hannah Jane, born June 20. l.s:',!). iiiairied Oliver Stidd. 

'I'-ie vol Idly csl.-.tc (d' the family was of the most modest 
character, as an incident r( lated by one of those wlio watched l)y 
th" coriise of tile soldi( r shows. " Ouring the night we were served 
with refreshments. t\ calce liaked of buckwheat meal and molas- 
ses." The late Lewis Cuddeback assumed charge of the funeral: 
it is not known by whom the religious exercises were conducted. 
Dominie Elting died the week following and not milikely Rev. 
.Mr. Edgar, pastor of the Mount Hop(> church, olticiated. On the 
childish mind of an eye-witness, then very young, is impressed 
the sight of a. great throng of people in the yard, soldiers being 
the main part, the procession moved off, the music, waving plumes 
and the vanishing comjiany of friends and neiglibors. The cottin 



(tf the (U\-iil sitlditM-. covt'rctl witli the tl:ii,- t'oi- wliicli he iiuirclicl 
and fiiui:iit. wms rt'sjicct fully lowcicd inii> iis rcsliiij; jilacc in the 
.srravt'.vanl at i'liddchacUvillc. and Ihc rt-^Milalion vollt'.vs tired by 
the military. A mnuli frauiiieiit ol' sIoih' indicates the place, well- 
known to many. TIh- rcvcicnci- we tCfl for him and his conn-ades 
shcndd inciic ns to jiul i'\'l' no Ionizer Iho oroclion of a stoin> to 
pei'iietuate Ins mmioi-y. 

In responsi' to the riMiucsl for an anlJH'ntic <-oi»y of any i)nl»lic 
reronl re.na rd i n :.; liif military soi-viccs of I lie s(ddit'r. the f(dlo\v 
ini; was tiivcn: 
Kt'cord and I'onsion Olticc. Wav I>t"i>t., Waslunyton City. 

Fehniary 4. ISOG. 

— ^ : I lieir to inform yon that the records of this office 

show that Benjamin Katoii serviMl as a private in the Commander- 
in-Chief s (inard. Continental Tn^ops. Kevolntionary War. 

His name appears en the rolls from April 1. 1780. to April. 178:'.. 
witli till' remark. ".loined 1 .\i.ril. ITSd." 

.\'o furtlu'r iitorn'ation i-elative To his service has been ionnd 
on record. 

\'ery respect f\dly. 

1'. c. Ai.xswou'rii. 

Colonel r. S. Aney. Chief of IJecord and Tension Ottiee. 
The identity of him whose remains repose in the nnmarke.l .urave 
at Cnddebackville with the one whose services aiv recorded above 
can be proved only by the nmniesticvned tradition which for half a 
century has lH>en accepted as dii-ect from tlie lips uf the soldier lo 
his children and graiuh-hihlren. 

The caution and i)recision wliicli characterized tlie tnuisactions 
of Lewis Cuddeback will lead all who knew him to the conclusion 
that no ndstake was made on this occasion. 

.MiDiil the \ e;ir l.s-!!;-.">0 a gentleman visited tlie family iiiakini; 
many iniiniries jii'd collected ;ill the incidents which they v,ere 
aide i(, fmnisli. it w.-is s.-iid with the view to aid tlie .-inthor in tin- 
prepai-.-ilioii of .•! liivtory of AN'ashin.uton and llie war. jiossibly 
Heii-.ou .1. I.ossiiiu. whose "Field Hook of tlie Kevolntion ' ii.ade 
its appcjirance soon ■•iftt'r. 

Ben.ianiin W. was <ommonly rath«>r reticent rt'gardiuu his fath- 
er, but on mie occasi<in st.ated to my infonnant that he coll.vied 
a eonij'any of infantry in Newbnr^rh and vicinity for service in the 
last war with Croat liritain under the promise of bein.ir c<Mn- 
missioned its captain. l>m on arrivinu at the jilace of beinj; mns- 



tered iu the proiuiso was not fiilfilleil: the iiKist of them, however, 
enlisted, and he among llie number. This statement is not eon- 
tiruied l>y any otlier of liis deseendents. but no reason to doubt It 
exists, but rather to accept it. upon the supposition that his h)ve 
for campaigning revived witli busy preparations for a new conflict 
with the old enemy. 

In connection with the subjecit a few incidents recorded by the 
historians In-ing, Lossing and Martha Lamb of the Commander- 
in-Ol'ief's Guard may have some interest, and from tlicm 
the reader may infer what \vere the duties, services and suiTound- 
ings of the (Guardsman. 

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S GUARD. 

That soon after the appointment of Washington as Commander 
in Chief of the Continental army there can be no question of the 
formation of a corps wiio.se especial duty would be to guard the 
person, papers, baggage and effects of tlie Chief. It may very 
well be that Philip Schuyler and George Washington, active mem- 
bers of the committee "* to prepaiv rules and regulations for the 
army " of the " old " Congress, provided for a body guard. The 
eminent character of both men for their methodical, business at- 
tention to details warrants the belief. Loosing says, " history is 
almost silent respec-ting this corps, few or no living witnesses re- 
main "' (1850), and further "the Commander-in-Chief's Guard." 
commonly called the Life Guard, was a distinct coiijs of superior 
men. attached to «the person of the General, but never spared iu 
battle. It was organized in 177fi. while the army was encamped 
on Manhattan Island, composed of 180 men— a Major's command. 
<^aleb (Tibbs. of Rliode Island, was the first Chief, umler the title 
of Captain Commandant, and retained that commission until the 
close of ITTD. wlien he was suceeded by William Colfax, of New 
.lersey. who remained in command until the army was disbanded 
in 1783. Excepting in the feature of qualitication the terms of en- 
listment were the same as into any other coi-ps' of the regular 
army. Col. Alexander Spcjtswood had the selection of the men 
from each regiment and was cliarged to be extremely cautious, 
because, waMtes Washington. •' it is more than probable that in the 
course of the campaign my baggage, papers and other matters of 
great public importance may be committed to the sole care of 
these men." The privates were carefully selected with special 
refei-ence to their moral, physical and intellectual capacity. None 
were to be over five feet and ten inches, nor under five feet nine 
inches ii. height, young .-uid well made and proud of appearing 
clean and soldier-lilve. Spotswood was further charged to send 



nom- liUt iiiili\('s .nid il possible iiicu of sdinc iiroixTly. 'I'lio luutin 
inscrilu'd u|m)Ii tlic colctrs wjis " ("oikhum- or Die." i\\u\ the ibi:,'. .-is 
late as alHUit IS.'O. was still in t^xistencc in the eolUftion of similar 
relics at Alexandria. \a. Tlie uiiifonn consisted of blue coats, 
white facinps. Avhiic waistcoats and breeches, black half pralters. 
black c(H-ked hats, blue and white feathers, bayonet and body belts 
Avhite: tli«\v carrie<l muskets and sometimes side arms. The eonis 
varied in iiunilH'rs at different perio<ls. at first 180. During the 
winici of ITT'.'^'i. when the army was cantone<l at Morristown 
in dose proximity to the enemy, it was increased to 2.^»0: the 
followinsr sprintr it was reduced to the original number. an<l in 
17.S.'3. the la.st year of service, the strenj?th was only i'A. At Morris 
town Washinjrton o<H-upie<l the " Ford " mansion, from whence he 
wrote: " Eijrhteen of my family aud all of Mrs. Ford's are crowd- 
ed topether in lier kitclien. and scarce one of them able to speak 
for the colds tlicy have." The utmost precaution ajjjainst sur]-.ri.<e 
was maintained: pickets were thrown out far upon the roads lead- 
ing: to the Hudson, and the tiring of a gun at a distance would be 
repeated along the line of sentinels to camp and headquarters. On 
such r.ccasions the "MJuard" would rush from the huts n»>ai'l)y to 
the mansion, liarricade the doors, throw up the sash, five with 
muskets ready generally stationed at each window l>ehind drawn 
curtains, until the troops could be mustered, and tlie cause of 
alarm l>e ascertained, and they were frequent. Mrs. Washington 
and the other ladies were obliged to lie in bed. sometimes for 
hours, with tlieir rooms tilled witii guards, and the keen wintry 
blasts sweeping through the liouse. Notwithstanding the precau- 
tion taken, treidiery invaded the corps througii the efforts of those 
engaged witli <;(iv. Tryon and the Tories in the plot of 177G, 'n 
which Washington was to be kilhsl or delivered up to the enemy. 
Thomas Mickey, one of tlie (iuard. was not only engaged in tln' 
p'.ot but assisted in corrupting his conu-ades. among others. Greene, 
the drummer, and .Fohnson. the titer. He was tried by a court 
maitial, w h. n it.\^ as sliown that he was a deserter from the British 
army, was found guilty of niutiny. sedition aud treacherous corre- 
.sj)ondence with the enem.v and sentenced to execution. The sen- 
teiice was api)roved by the Commander-in-Chief and promptly car 
rie.l into effect in the most solemn and impressive manner. On the 
morning of the 2Sth of .Tun<' all the otticers and men off duty l>e- 
longing to the brigades of Heath. SiKMicer. Sterling aud St-ott 
m.i'stered under arms and marched to the grouml. a. field near the 
R:iwery. twenty men from each l)riga(le. with bayonets fixed 
guarding the prisoner. Tliere he w.-is luinged in the i>resence. we 
are told, of near L'(i.(i(i(i i jile. In liis orderly i.ook Wasliiiigtou 



I'xpre^ist^l tlic •• liojic tlml the uiiliMppy fate of Thoniiis Hickey. 
executtHl that day for nuiTiny, sedition and treaeht»ry, would be a 
warning to every soldier in the line, to avoid the.crinies for which 
he suffered." 

This wais th(> Hrsr militai'y execution of the Revolution. One of 
the last returns, if not tlu' last, dated June 4, ITSH, sif>-ned by Wil- 
liam Colfax, with his certiticate that " the above list includes the 
whole of the guard" is still among the military archives of the 
nation, and the name of Hen.jamin Eaton appears among the ten 
credited to New Jersey. 

It has been said that the militafy escort at the funei-al of tlie 
old gt:ardsman Avas comiK)se<l of a company of cadets from the 
Militaiy Academy at AVest Point, but upou search being made, Mr. 
William Ward, keeper of the records at that post, rex)ort,s " nothing 
either in orders or otherwise makes it appear that the corjis of 
cadets, or any of them participated in the funeral ceremonies of 
Benjamin Eaton." 

That feature of the occasion was the company raised in the 
vicinity some years l>efore. of which William A. Cmhleback was 
Captain; Abram Westbrook Cuddeback. Lieutenant. George H. 
Brown, Ensign, and comiwsed of some sixty or seventy rank and 
lile. attache<l to Col. Westbrook's lU)th Hegt. Infantry. 2:h-d Bri- 
gade, and ()th Division of the State Militia. The regimental mus- 
ters and general training were usually made at Wtu'tsboro and 
Bloomingburgh. The late Lewis Cuddeba<-k was much interestel 
in the organi7,atiou and was the bass drummer. Caleb IMttsley beat 
the tenor drum and Amos Baker was lifer, who also made m.iny 
of the uniforms worn by them, viz.: blue coats, black military 
hatsamd feathers, white pantaloons, shoulder and body belts. 

Lieut. Abner AA'estbrook Cuddeback. noAV hale and hearty .-it 
more than foui- s<'ore, was next in command at the funeral, and the 
facts in regard to the comi>any were related by him while leaning 
on a bushhook, the intiuirer liaving interrupted liim in its active 
use a few days since. 

Stoddard Van Inwegen. Esq., Stpiire William Rankin .ind my 
aged friend, Harry (Quarters, distinctly recollect the incident of 
the funeral, as<loalso Mrs. Stidd. a grandilaughter, ;nid Harm.-inns 
C, a grands(m. e;icli of wliom lias contril)Uted sonu'wliat to the 
small sum of information on tiiis interesting sub.je( t whicli is here 
recorded. 



CAUDEBEC IN HISTORY. 

SKETCH OF THE CUDDEBACK ANCESTRY 
A AND CAUDEBEC. /•: 

A Thrifty Old Province and Town in France 

From Which the Cuddebacks Sprang and 

Derived Their Name, Jacques Caud/- 

ebec, the Emigrant Ancestor. 

a; a: a; 

'I'lic fcilluwiuti- iiilcnstiii.t;- sUctcli (if llic liomc of tlic Cnddchar-k 
;iiHTSlry mikI Ilic liisldi-y (if the f.-uiiily in this (•(uiiitry. the facts 
i-i>iitaiiii 1 ill which were uallicrcd w iih iinich trouble and expense 
by ]tr. ^\■. I.. CuddfliMck. were read at tlic Inisiness meeting of the 
Minii*ink Valley Historical Society: 

At the first niid-sunmier meeting of tlie Minisink Valley Histori- 
cal Society, held on tliis sjiot July •Jlid. 18S!). you honored oui- host, 
ar.d you houoied youist hcs liy naming this si.ot •' Caudebec Park." 
It is in-oiirr now that one of the Caoidebecs should trace the 
Candelicc line of descent, place l>efore you a few fact** concerning 
Uie aiicieiil town of ("audelM'c. France, and relate something of 
llie family to wliicli we ludoiig. 

This grove, tliis part of the valley is true historic ground. On 
yonder hill we are within siglit and almost withhi hearing of the 
knoll where the tirst s(>ttlers in this region i)itclied their tents, 
and later erectel their log houses. 

Here, to the east, to the Udrth. an<l to the south of us. at shoi't 
distances are the idaces wliere the stone houses and forts of the 
second and third generations were built, where many stirring and 
eventful scenes occurred during revolutinnMrv davs. 



Bt'Iow us a few miles Col Tiisten with The Oranse Comity 
Militia crossed the valley on that most unfortunate expedition to 
intercept Brant, which ended in diaster at Lakawaxen. July 22l1, 
the annual recurrence of which we now commemorate. 

Here were the military headquarters and business centre of the 
town dirrinii' the last and the early years of this century. On lliis 
mountain, near us. cannon have for years given voice to the i)a- 
triotism of our people. 

In this fiTove oiir mid-summer meetings have been }j:atheri i<>"s 
of ac<iiiaintances. old and new — of people from all over and be- 
yond the borders of the Minisink region— where gifted speakers 
have entertained us with the recital of events and tradititms of 
our valley. 

AYhat pleasure there has been at each meeting to see and to 
listen to the greetings of those gray haired boys and girls, who 
iiM-liaps have not met each otlier for .1. 10 or 20 years, as tluy 
eagerly and earnestly recount their varied experiences in life. 

This grove, this portion of our valley has been in the possession 
of the '• Caiidebecs " since its very first settlement and occupation 
by white people. 

Our Host, Mr. Levi Cuddeback. "is of the bluest of llie blue 
blood." his t.iTlu'V and mother, each being direct lineal <'t's- 
ceudauts of the French Huguenot refugee, Jacques Cau'.lebec. 
The paternal line running backward being James. William A.. 
Abram, William, then Jacob Caudebec. The maternal line being 
Catherine. Benj.. Benj.. William, then .Tacob. while succeeiling 
geiH>rations have been associated with and related on the mater- 
nal side to the Eltings. Oumaers. Xnu Inwegens, Van Fleets, Van 
Ettens. Is it any wonder that the name Cuddeback was generally 
thought to be of Dutch origin V 

Jacques Caudeliec was l)orn about the year l(!()(i in ('audelx'c. 
France, where his people were i)rosi)er<>us merchants of consider- 
able wealth. The family Avere zealous protestants and suff;>re 1 
much because of religious i)ersecution. The revocation of the 
i:dict of .Xantes caused tliem to become liomeless wanderers. Witli 
other refugees J;i<-'jiies Caudeliec an<l Pierre (Jumar. ;icc.i;"ding 
to their own statements. tle<l to Holland, thence after a time to 
England, where they searched in vain for two sisters of Caudebec, 
From thence the^y took passage with other Huguenots for .Ameri- 
ca landing in Maryland, without either friends or money. They 
soon after came to New York where Caudebec obtained emiiloy- 



nuMit from KoiiJ.-iniiii Pnivost. .-i nirnti.-iiit rcsidiii;,' ■•illrniat.'ly ;it 
Kintfstoii aiul New York. cnuai^fH in trading: and dealing in liirs, 
etc. 

At Kingston Caudebec and (liiinarr were wclconicd by (.fliers 
of their countrymen, fujritivcs liUc tliciusclvcs. Aitoul l(i!»<i ass(( 
oiated with these and the sons of Uoelof Swartwout they explored 
and settled in the Minisink or Meckhin-kameck valley. 

Satisfied with their surronndinjrs Candehec and Company de 
termined to make this locality their permanent home. They erect- 
ed suitable houses and became settled in life. They purchased the 
fertile lands in the valley from the Indians and lived among and 
at peace with tliem. being the oidy white settlei-s in this region 
for several years. In 1(H>." Caudebec returned to New York and 
on Oct. 21st in the old Reformed Church married Margareta I'ro 
vost. daughter of his old employer, whence tlH>y retunieil io ihe 
pioneer life at IVenpack 

Repeated encroachments upon tlH^r lands by others i ladc 
it necessary that Ih.ey shtmld secure patent from the (Joverameat 
detinitely locating their possessions. At the solicitation of ('aude- 
hec tlus was granled Oct. 14th. 1(>97, when the IVenpack p.-itent 
covering l.lldo ju-res of the level, fertile land of the v.alley was 
granted to tlieni. In May. 172.^. Caudebec apju-ars ;is one of the 
adiniiiislrators o!' llie esT.ate of his fatlier-in-law. Heu.jamin I'l-o- 
vust. of Kingston. 

In jiersonal apix^arance .Tac(d> Caudebec was tall and muscular. 
\if fair skin, blue eyes, and black curly hair. It is said that he 
was .easy and not exacting iti his business transactions, was most 
tender toward his family, and regretted that his children were de- 
prived of educational advantages. He instructed them in moral 
and religious <luties ami was very tenacious of their characters. 
He died in l>e(>rpark in 17<i(i. decrepit and blind, but of vigorous 
mind to the List. Tliere were eleven children. His son, William 
Caudebec was born in i'eenpack. baptize<l June 21st, 1704. mar- 
ried .Feiiiiiiia Kiting. May L'd. 17:«. at Kingston. He died in 1778. 
lie W.MS over six feet ill st.iture. coarse boned, muscidar, lean, of 
gre-r ciidiir.-iiice. talkative, witty, and was cluir.acteri/.ed as a wise 
ni.Mii of his time. 

He was one of the sigri«'rs of " Articles of Association " in 1775 
and with three of his sons signed the Revolutionary Pledge, .luly 
2fith in that year. He was an enthusiastic sujiporter of The Con- 
tinental Army during tlie Itevobuion. 

There were six children, .\nioiig tiiem in this line we are trac- 
ing were, first. Alirahani. born ;it I'lH'iip.ack. bapti/.ed .Minisink, 



Oct. nist. IT.'iS. married Ester Cuinaer. He was strong, arhletie. 
six feet tall, weighed ovei- l^do iMHinds, and greatly distinguished 
himself by his prndeuce and valor. (Jumaer characterizes him as 
a man, bold, sagacicms, prudent, and tenaciovis of his Ikhkh-. He 
was commissioned a Captain l»efore the Revolution, and with his 
(•omj)aiiy rendered service at Fort ^[(mtgoniery. guarding llic 
iron chain across the Hudson at that point. 

In 1777 he was instnunental in saving lives and property at 
Cochccton. In 17'.>\ at the time of the Indian raid tlii-ouuii iliis 
valley he commanded Fort (Juniaer. In 1770 lie was on.' of tlie 
few survivors of the battle of Minisinlc. 

Second, Benjamin Codebeck. liorn .'ind l)apti/ed in .Minisiidc. 
June Ulst, 1747. married. 17(;7. Catrina \'an Fleet. He was :i 
farmer, was a soldier in the company of the Orange ('ouity 
Militia, commanded by his brother. Captain Abram, particiuated 
in nearly all the battles this militia was in din-lng the Kevolurion. 
He served at Fort Dewitt during the Indian raid of 1778 and su<-- 
ceeded in protecting lives and property at that point. 

Tile fonrtli geue'.'ation in the male lim^ — the son of Capt. .'Iiraiu 
—was Col. William A. Cnddebaik, who married Charlotte \'an 
Inwegen. These were the parents of .lames Cnddeback and tlie 
paternal graiidpareiits of our host. Levi Cnddeback. 
CAIDFBFC 0\ THE SPLINE. 

" Tlie valley of tlie Seine tlirougli Normandy is one of the most 
lieaiitirul 111 I'laiici. It is most sacred because of tlie uiiscison- 
able and unreasonable loss of life tlirougliout its entire liisTury; 
it is rich in memories, and is in scenery a veritalile parailise for 
the artist and archaeologist." 

"Ascending the Seine from Havre, one passes tlirougli tlie 
province of Yvetot, where on every side are relics of past occu- 
pancy by different nationalities, of cominest and destruction, of 
people and of places. St. (iertrude, with its stone tabernacle; 
-Matilerer, Avith its licmian villa; Calidee, with its Gallic medals; 
Belzinac, under Avhose alluvial fields are the ruins of villages aid 
three churches; Lotum. with its Kouian ruins, now under tlie 
waters of the Seine, and liere and there ruins of ramparts, debris 
of fortitications. ancient (Jallic walls. Celtic money. Koiuaii im- 
plements of war." 

" At the very threshold of Normandy, entering the land from 
the sea. is the land of Caux, containing many of the above an- 
tiquities and of its ghn-ies." Havre is its capital to-day. For cen- 
turies Caudebec was its capital. "Here illustrious and toudiing 
memories record the existence of a sturdy, vigorous people, of six 
Barons of great following, of tliree iMikt's. and of a King. ' 



('an(l«'l»»'c (Ml ('.•mx. (he cMpiliil of ('.•iiix. is situntod on Uic ri.ulit 
Itjuik of tlir Sciiu". iiiidw.'iy bt'iwt'cii Uoiicn and II:ivr»', at tlic foot 
of two small niountaiiis. .Ml. ("alidci' and Mt. NMyncttc. (Viiic^ar 
Hill), (■.•icli aliout ."i(lO fet't hifrli. lu'twtHMi which the livcr St. (Jer- 
tnidf Hows. It is in loii>;iludt', cast froiu (JnHMiwicli, al>out 2-3 
of a detrrcc and in lalitudc I'.l 1 'J iioiMli. Tiic town foi-nis a tri- 
anfrh' whost' base is on \\w Seine and w liose aiiex is lielween the 
nunintains. Its wharf is -\A'.\Tt meters above sea level. It is locat- 
ed on (Jovei-meni roads. .\d. 1 and -1. while Xo. SI extends ffom 
Caudebe.- to Havre. 

It lias a soft, mild lemiieralnre. and is vei-y health.v. and has a 
litzht alluvial prodnctive soil. 

As to Ilie ori.uin of llie name Candeltec autliorilies diffei-. It is 
thoujiiit. however, that 1 he nanu' is of Norse or of Icelandic oriKin. 
coined by the Norma n>. The Icelandic adjective Kaldr-Kalt-Kold- 
('(dd and Mekl<. nicaninii- a rivulet. brook-Kaltdiekk, (("ondeDec). 
nu'ainn- Coldbrook. 

.\bout i.-is. .V I'.. Si. \'audrille. a Knight at the Court of Kin.ir 
Dajrobert. fouiul this sjiot in its primeval beauty, and founded a 
nu»nastery of I'ontanelle here, nt-ar a sparkliu);- stream in the 
forest, ruder the intlneiices af ( 'liarlemaujini> and the educa- 
tional tendency of I lie limes tiiis monastery lirew rapi<lly and 
attracted many students. .More tlian .".(td wiM-e in attendance at 
one time durin.i;- the Nth ("enlury. The villa.ue of ("audebec was 
formed lielow it. In >."l!i. by act of the Kiuf;. (Louis Debonnaire). 
it was attaclicil to the monastery, with the rl>rht to tax it and its 
re\i'iuis. as I'ci'iy iuu across tlie Seine, tax on wines, oils, shipiti.ii;'. 
weijrliin,u-. etc.. as a means of sujiiiorl. Tiie town ;;i-ew rapidly in 
population and in imiiortance. 

Traces of former occupation and <'ivilizati(ni were abundant 
about ('audebec. The remnants of the walls of the ancient Celtic 
villa;re of Calete or Caledum liav«> been made out on the hills 
surrounding;, and <d" liOtnm. on the flat lands below, on the exact 
site of ('audebec. .lulius Caesar ((UKpn'red the iieojjle of Caletus, 
and constituted a Homan colony there, namiiii;- it " Julian Bonuni," 
afterwards corrtipted into Hie Konum. It is ditticult to deteruune 
wliat liec'ime of iliese jilaces. Nomiau records do not nuMition 
Ihes" for several cenluries. nor is ("audebec menlioiu'd. The 
country is mentioned as the abode of ;i few stray heatlu'ii. 

In the Sth and '.Hli <-cnlurics the .Normans, i Norsc-meni. out- 
^'I'owin^' in iioindalion the resources of their own country, colon- 
ized northern I'r.-iiice. t<.ok i>ossessi(m of the fertile valley of the 
Seine, wiiidi was afterward )j:rante<l to lliem liy Charles the Sim- 



Itlc. 'I'licy were sticiiu, \v;ii-iii-lH';irt('(l. p.-Uriolic, iuTclli.iiout jird 
of noble enerfietie cliiU'acter. Thoy rapidly adopted more eivilized 
mauiiers. hui.nnaRi'. et<-., and soon became the best agriculturists, 
gardeners and maniifacturers. etc., in all France, as they were 
already the liest saih^rs and most slvillfid tishermeu. Norman 
Barons soon became tlie l(»cal sovereigns, wliose combined in- 
fluence was very great. 

During the 11th century Caudebec became the commercial town 
and Jie central market of the land of Caux and northern b'l-auce. 
The Seine was navigable for sea-going vessels to that point. In 
the 12th century the harbor was constructed, and from that time 
it ruled on the sea and was the northern French sea-port. In 1260 
King Douis IX spent a week at Caudebec. In 1477 Count War- 
wick, the Ambassador to France, landed there. About 1(500 the 
port is described as being frequented by Frencli, Englisli, Dutch 
and other nationalities for the export of grain. 

During the 17th century Caudebec began to decline in naval 
supremacy. This was primarily due to the vagaries of the river 
Seine and of the sea. The tide which comes up this river as a 
solid wall of water with great deep rumbling sounds, heard idles 
away, has gradually widened and sliallowed it. and completely 
changed the river bed. This is a very curious and unusual i»lie- 
nomena, and at this day attracts much attention. Tlie solid per- 
pendicular rolling and pUniging wall of water, several feet liigii. 
cari-jMng everything up stream before it. 

The very elements of strengtli inherent in the Norman ract-. 
industi-y, perseiwance, economy, resulting in thrift and sell re 
liance was noticeable in Caudebec. Uncontrollal)le inlluences lost 
to it the s»^a power and commerce. Other industi-ies continued to 
keep up its fortunes. The land of Caux was favorable to stock 
raising. In the Itith and 17th centuries tanneries were established 
and a great deal of leather was manufactured. Many gloves were 
made at Caudeltec. Tlie manufacture of ])eaver liats was uu<lt'i'- 
talveu. The black liat of (;audel)ec. witli tlie lnrg(> l)lack fenllier. 
is then first seen on the heads of the Huguenots. Later, almost 
all the headgear worn in France, was made at Caudeliec. Tlie 
Court adopted the Caudebec hat. 

The fourth generatioi' on maternal side— tlie son of Ben.j.iiiiin. 
was Benjamin Cuddeback. who married Blaiidina Van I'^rtcn. 
These were the parents of Catherine CnddcbacU and tlu' maternal 
grandpari'uts of our host. 

In olden times (.-audebec had as lis eiiibleiu or coal of arms a 
shield, sky blue in color, with tlire(> smelts (an e.\(Hiisite salt water 
lish), in silver across its face. In the 17tli century as the town 

NOTE The paragraph next to the last one on this page, coniniencmg 
with the wordH : ''The I'onrth generation," etc., should appear on the 
laHt page of the preceding leaf juHt over the caption : "* Caudebec on the 
Seine." 



lnH-anie an industrial ratluT tliaii a ooniinoroial ccntor <>ITnrt was 
made to cliaii^'*' its ensif^n. Ht'sulliiiK from this. Kin^ Louis XIV 
proflainu'd "that in tlie futuiv the tish of Caudc'lu'c shoiihl l)e 
regarded as Salmons and not as smelts." A (•al)inet order of Jan. 
2(lth, 172S. specially eontirmed this i»rivilege. 

Tlie clinrcii at ( 'audeltec is one of the oldest and one of the 
finest in Normandy. Many otliers tiiron>rhotit France have been 
moilelled after it. Hnilt originally in the llth century it has suf- 
feretl rei)eatedly as a result of the sectional wars that have de- 
vasted the country. It has been repeatedly repaired and remodel- 
led and enlarged. Its splendid tower was completed in 1491. The 
reliuious wars (I -he Kith and 17th centuries again devasted it. 

A curious custom prevailed at Caudebeo. By their law of in- 
heritance the eldest son inherited the homestead and two-thirds 
of *hi' i»ropei'ty and continued tlie liusiness of tiie father after the 
father's death. a\ hile the otlier sous were titted for otlier callings 
in life. 

On Aug. ir.th. 141".. H«'nry V. of England caused the land of 
Caux to be the seat of war. which lasted several years. In May, 
1418, the English (ienerals, Warwick and Talbot besiegt^l Caude- 
bec. The town made a heroic defense but surrendered in tlie fol- 
lowing September. In 14.3ri the peasantrj^ of Caux rebelled against 
Phiglisli rule. The English retirwl to the fortress at Caudebec and 
subs.'(iiicniiy anniliilated the peasants. The province remained 
the s^'at of war until 1449, when Charles VII tooJc Koueu by storm, 
(^audebec and all other strategetic points were then abandoned 
by the English. Charles VII at the head of 12.000 men made a 
triumphal entry into Caudebec. He left a garrison of 200 soldiers* 
there. 

In 14<iT ("audel)ec received a number of English refugees. Af- 
ter this it enjoyed a long period of rest until the religious troubles 
of the middle of the lOth century. 

The Reformation, the great religious awakening of the 16th 
century, had developed great sympathy in Caudebeo. The Protes- 
tani.-: (i rotestants ( i' April 2r>th, 1529), the Huguenots (the Egue. 
nots-Eidganossen— bound together by (»ath), were already quite 
numcious. In ir.(>0 ther^ were two Protestant churches in Caude- 
bec and the Reformation was making extraordinary progress in 
France. Religious wars followed. Rival dukes and princes took 
advantage of this to advance their own fortunes. 

In 1562 there was a ••ontlict in Caudebec between the Hugue- 
nots and the Catholics. This was followed by pillage, incendiarism 
and general destructicm of property. 



At the format idii of the Koyalist party Caudeht'c- .joined it with 
aidor. Oil April 24th. 1592, the Prince of Parma of Spain besieged 
it. 'i'wo days later the town eapitnlated and was jjiven over to 
pillage. King Henry IV of France came to its relief, and entered 
it on May inth. 15J)2, amid the cheers of the populace. Because 
of its l'o.\alist tendciicics, the committee of public safety ih'rn'cd 
that the government of the district l)e transfered to Yvetot. There- 
after Caudebec was only a countiy seat. 

On April 15th, 1598 Hem-y IV issued the "edict of Nantes," 
establishing universal liberty and ecpiality as to religious profes- 
si(ms and worshij). (ieneral prosperity followed in manul'ac- 
furies, agriculture and in all branches. In 1(;24 the "plague" 
devasted Caudebec and surrounding country. 

On Oct. 17th, 1685, Louis XIV signed tlie decree " The revoca- 
tion of the Edict of Nantes," annulling all pnvileges extended to 
the HiigUvMiots. itroliibiting the exercise of their religion, n'dering 
their churches destroyed and their ministers to quit France within 
fifteen days, forbade reformers to follow their pastors into exile, 
requiring their children to be baptized and educated as Catholics. 

Frightful cruelties followed. l>m-ing tlie succeeding years 
more than 200,000 persons, mostly of the industrial and manu 
factiu'iiig classes, tied from Fram c. 

In 1()49 about one-fourtli of tlic town was destroyed by tire, ami 
in eighteen months more tlian onc-tliird the i>opulation had died 
of epidemic diseases. 

In 17ti2 Mr. P^bram Marin was m;uU- trustee at <"atidel)ec of 
the property of fugitive Protestants. 

On Sept. 19th, 1749, Louis XV visited Caudebec Avitli all the 
splendor of the Court. The Royalist spirit was still very strong. 
In their enthusiasm the citizens unharnessed the horses and drew 
the royal carriage. The spirit Avas again strengthened an<l dis- 
played in 1837 when the Duke of Orleans visited Caudebec. 

In 1870, during the Fi'anco-Prussian war, the Prussians threat- 
ened to bombai-d Caudebec. On Sept. 15th tliei-e was a slight 
encounter between 150 Prussians soldiers and some French 

Now Caudebec is liecoming a great sumniei- resort with modern 
improved hotels. Its population, now about 2,200, is increasing. 
Principal industries, agricultural, with tanneries, saw mills, mus^ 
tard factory. It has fairs three times per year. Navigation 1» 
restricted to annual boat regattas. 

Most of the houses date back to the 15th century, with few 
modern transformations in them, as new windows or doors or 



newly itlasltMvd wmUs. TIhmh* still i-cinniii some did wonii-calfii 
\v(»(Mlt'ii iralh'rit's suspfudiMl oviT liic river and the stiUH-ts, and to 
day ill Caudehec one l>featlies tile ail' of the iniddU' aj^es. 

Of itersons naine.l Caiidehee we tiiid the foHowiiij,' i-ecord: 
Fnii'i years lost; to IJil.", A. D. Wilhelinus ('oldehet-CaiKU-bec In 
a Latin inanuscriiit at the lieninninj; of the 13th century is riM-ord- 
ed that ^^■illianl Caudehec. son of \an(Hi<'lin de ('audebec. sohl \i\ 
his eldest son his share iu a tannery. 

In nj)S Juniel de C'atidebec is mentioned. 

From \2^2~^ to 1227, Jean de Caudehec was mayor of Rouen. In 
\'2'.\'2 Emaline de Caudi'bec is mentioned. In the 13th century 
there is mentioned KeiriiiaM de Caudehec. also Giiudfrideus de 
Caudehec. 

In l.'iCd Jean de Caudebec of near Rouen. 

In 131»! there was a suit pending in Paris regarding the sue 
(('•<s:oi! of .li'aii dc Caudebec. whose sou, Matthiew de Caudebec 
was a physician who owned and occupied a house on Marmousets 
Street. Paris. 



